Multi-channel universal serial bus (USB) to subrate channel systems

Abstract

Multi-channel universal serial bus (USB) to subrate channel systems and methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a USB interface configured to communicatively connect to a computing device. The system may also include a multi-channel interface configured to communicatively connect to multiple subrate channels. Further, the system may include a controller configured to communicatively connect the subrate channels with the computing device via the USB interface. The controller may also be configured to communicate, to the computing device, connection specifications for the subrate channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a universal serial bus (USB) interface configured to communicatively connect to a computing device; 
 a multi-channel interface configured to communicatively connect to a plurality of subrate channels, each subrate channel of the plurality of subrate channels configured to autonomously operate concurrently with other subrate channels of the plurality of subrate channels; 
 a controller configured to communicatively connect each of the plurality of subrate channels with the computing device via the USB interface, and configured to communicate concurrently with each of the plurality of subrate channels, to the computing device, connection specifications for each of the plurality of subrate channels; and 
 a plurality of subrate engines that are each associated with one of the plurality of subrate channels, each subrate engine of the plurality of subrate engines configured to communicatively connect register files and buffers associated with each subrate channel of the plurality of subrate channels. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB interface is a USB transport layer interface. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of subrate channels are one of I 2 C, RS-232, and RS-485 channels. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection specifications indicate one of a number of the plurality of subrate channels and a subrate type for each of the plurality of subrate channels. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection specifications indicate one of transmit buffer information, receive buffer information, register information, and subrate protocol information. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate the connection specifications to the computing device during enumeration. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of buffers that are each associated with one of the plurality of subrate channels. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control interface configured to select one of the plurality of subrate channels for connection with the computing device via the USB interface. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to reset one of the plurality of subrate subrate channels. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to select a direction of communication of the plurality of subrate channels. 
     
     
       11. A method comprising:
 providing a system comprising a universal serial bus (USB) interface and a multi-channel interface configured to communicatively connect to a plurality of subrate channels, each subrate channel of the plurality of subrate channels configured to autonomously operate concurrently with other subrate channels of the plurality of subrate channels, the system comprising:
 a plurality of subrate engines that are each associated with one of the plurality of subrate channels, each subrate engine of the plurality of subrate engines configured to communicatively connect register files and buffers associated with each subrate channel of the plurality of subrate channels; 
 
 communicatively connecting the subrate channels with a computing device via the USB interface; and 
 communicating, to the computing device, concurrently with each of the plurality of subrate channels, connection specifications for each of the plurality of subrate channels. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the USB interface is a USB transport layer interface. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of channels are one of I 2 C, RS-232, and RS-485 channels. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating connection specifications comprises communicating, to the computing device, one of a number of the plurality of subrate channels and a subrate type for each of the plurality of subrate channels. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating connection specifications comprises communicating, to the computing device, one of transmit buffer information, receive buffer information, register information, and subrate protocol information. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein communicating, to the computing device, the connection specifications comprises communicating the connection specifications to the computing device during enumeration. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting one of the plurality of subrate channels for connection with the computing device via the USB interface. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising resetting one of the plurality subrate channels. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising selecting a direction of communication of the plurality of subrate channels.